The Lexus RX is now available as a plug-in hybrid for the first time.
Interesting alternatives to the German three
A PHEV is now the standard for thick SUVs because it saves so much in the purchase price. That is why Lexus now comes with a plug-in version of its new RX. So a plug-in hybrid. And let Jaguar now also have equipped its facelifted F-Pace with an electric motor. So this is a test between two plug-in hybrid SUVs.
At AutoWeek we are not always a fan of the SUV, but why are we with SUVs of this size?
In general, we are in favor of low cars. We sometimes advise people to look at a somewhat lower model of the same brand if they let us know that they have a specific crossover or midi SUV in mind. But with more expensive cars, such advice is less self-evident. Because expensive, thick SUVs from premium brands are simply fantastic cars to enjoy many kilometers. From Land Rover and BMW to Mercedes-Benz and Audi: full options with big engines are real automotive all-rounders, disguised as a moving villa. And you can also take some friends or relatives with you.
Why no German competitor for the Lexus RX?
These are indeed misfits, because buyers in this segment do not have Lexus and Jaguar primarily in their sights. The traditional German three rule by definition, but Land Rover is also holding up well with the Range Rover Velar and the Range Rover Sport. Lexus and Jaguar are an out-of-the-box candidate for people who want something original. Those brands are not disappointing, we can already tell you.
Misfit? Hasn’t the Lexus RX been part of the established order for years?
You can indeed say that about the Lexus RX, which is already up to generation five. The car may never have been a huge runner in the Netherlands, but the model has existed since the late 1990s and was therefore one of the forerunners. That we drive a hybrid is hardly a surprise, Lexus was a pioneer here. But a plug-in RX was not there before. As convinced as Lexus was of hybrid drive, the Japanese were so skeptical for a long time about all forms with a plug. But the world is changing and sometimes you have to go with it, even if you would have liked it differently. That’s why the new RX 450h is a plug-in hybrid.
Why did the Jaguar F-Pace oppose the Lexus RX?
Jaguar has had the F-Pace since 2016, which was the first SUV from the English. Jaguar arrived late at the SUV party, but of course wanted to get a piece of the pie. The car received a decent update in 2020, but due to the corona time, relatively little attention has been paid to it. The arrival of the RX is a good reason to once again draw attention to the ‘Jag’. If only because the Jaguar in the form of the P400e is a plug-in hybrid. This has a 2.0 turbo engine in the front, good for 300 hp, and an electric motor that adds another 143 hp. As long as you have electricity of course. Together, the engines peak at 404 horsepower.
How is the Lexus RX’s plug-in hybrid powertrain constructed?
The Lexus takes a very different approach. In principle, the RX 450h + has the powertrain of the 350h: a hybrid without a plug. That is, a 2.5 four-cylinder engine with low compression, which receives help from two electric motors. Only those electric power sources in the 450h + deliver much more power than in the 350h, so that the total system power is 309 hp instead of 245 hp. Simply put, the system works like that in the Lexus ES: petrol and electric power in the front complement each other steplessly as efficiently as possible. A second powerful electric motor on the rear axle is added, so that you have four-wheel drive. A completely different system than in the Jaguar, where the power is simply released in series. The F-Pace does have considerably more power than the Lexus, but given the equal size and ditto price of the cars (both as good as €100,000, as they are listed here), we thought it was an excellent test.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl